MIDDLEBURY, VT (May 2, 2026) -- The No. 2 seed Tufts University women's lacrosse team led late against third-seed Wesleyan University in the 2026 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) semifinals, but the Cardinals scored with no time remaining in regulation to tie the game before scoring in overtime to earn a 10-9 win at Peter Kohn Field at Middlebury College. 

Wesleyan (15-2) will now take on Middlebury College (17-0) in the NESCAC final Sunday at noon, while Tufts will await a berth into the NCAA Tournament on Monday. 

The Jumbos trailed the entire game but rallied with three straight fourth quarter goals to take a 9-8 lead with 58 seconds to play in regulation on an Allie Zorn unassisted goal. Wesleyan would win the ensuing draw control, but a shot from the Cardinals' Becca Dibble went high and the Jumbos won the run out to take control with nine seconds left. 

Following a timeout, Tufts would turn the ball over on the clear and Wesleyan's Addie Cummings scored with no time left to send the game to overtime deadlocked at nine. In the extra session, Wesleyan got the opening draw and a Cardinals' pass attempt in front went through everyone in front and into the goal for the game-winning score. 

Wesleyan came out fast in the game, scoring four of the first five goals before Zorn netted a goal with a minute left in the first quarter to make it 4-2 after 15 minutes. Junior Sophia Claps brought Tufts (14-3) to within one at 4-3 early in the second but Wesleyan pushed its lead back out to three at 6-3. Tufts got a Schuyler Lloyd goal with 3:43 to go in the half to make it 6-4 at the break. 

Both teams scored twice in the third quarter, but a Zorn tally at 6:17 of the third quarter started a four-goal run for Tufts to take the lead. The Jumbos defense was stellar in the fourth quarter, holding Wesleyan scoreless to enable the comeback. 

Tufts outshot Wesleyan 25-23, winning the ground ball total 15-11. Tufts was just 1-for-6 on free-position attempts, and both teams finished with 16 turnovers. 

Zorn led all player with five points on four goals and an assist, while Lloyd also had two scores and one helper. Senior Kate Deehan scored a big goal in addition to her three draw controls, and Claps tallied two caused turnovers and a ground as well as scoring once. 

First-year Eleanor Helm had two caused turnovers and three ground balls, and Grace Hammond netted a goal to go with two draw controls. Sophomore Neta Leschly added two goals and an assist as well. Sophomore Devon Chipman stopped five shots in goal for the Jumbos.

Cummings and Mya Waryas finished with four points apiece for Wesleyan, and Bridget Horst tallied four draw controls, two ground balls and two caused turnovers.